Distant tractor control



Sept. 1 l, i923.

E. L. THOMSON DIsTANT TRACTOR CONTROL Filed sept. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1` Sept 1,1, 1923.` I www@ E. L. THOMSON DISTANT TRACTOR coNTxL Filedsam. s. 1922 :s sheetssheet 2 k (g1/wanton i www, W

Sept l1', 1923.

E. L; THOMSON DIsTANT TRACTOR lcomnoL Filed Sept. 9. 1922 .S'Sheets-Sheet 5` Patented Sept. il, l923.

UNTE@ STATES,

lAt'ME@ EARL L. THOMSON, or Dorfman, OHIO.

DISTANT TRACTOR CONlOL.

Application filed September 9, 1922. Serial No. 587,145.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, EARL L. THOMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Hardin and State Oi Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Distant Tractor Controls, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to an improved distant tractor control and seeks, as one of its principal objects, to provide a mechanism whereby a tractor may be operated `and guided by a person riding upon a load pulled by the tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein the clutch pedal ot the tractor may be readily swung to disengage the clutch ot the tractor tor stopping the tractor and wherein means will Z0 be provided forV automatically locking the pedal in such position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein the clutch pedal may, after having been moved to disengage 25 thel clutch of the tractor, be readily released for movement to normal position so that the tractor may, when desired, be easily started. Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein, when the clutch pedal ot the tractor is swung to stop the tractor, the throttle valveof the tractor engine will be coincidently shifted toward closed position Jfor retarding. the speed of the tractor engine and wherein when the clutch pedal is released for starting the tractor, the throttle valve will be acain opened.

Jand the invention has as a still further object to provide a mechanism embodying means to cooperate with the steering wheel of the tractor for eiiiciently guiding the tractor.

Other and incidental objects willrappear hereinafter. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved tractor control in connection with a conventional tractor,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing` the mechanism associated with the clutch pedal oi the tractor for operating said pedal,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the clutch pedal swung to disengage the clutch of the tractor,

Figure 4i is a view similar to Figure 3,

showing the manner in which the clutch pedal is released tor movement to normal position, i

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing the mechanism employed 'for operating the throttle of the tractor engine coincident with the movement of the clutch pedal,

. Figure 6 is a detail perspective view particularly showing the dash lever of the throttle operating mechanism,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view showing the pulley bracket and mechanism employed in conjunction with the steering wheel of the tractor for guiding the tractor,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view particularly showing the channel member which is mounted upon the steering wheel to accommodate the flexible guiding member employed, and

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9 9 of Figure 8. u

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my improved control mechanism in connection with a Fordson tractor, the mechanism being particularly designedtor use in connection with tractors of this make. However, I do not wish to be limited in this regard since, `as will appear as the description proceeds, the mechanism 'is also well adapted for use upon other makes of tractors, The usual clutch pedal of the tractor is indicated at 1() and secured to the pedal is an upstanding lever 11 provided at its lower end with an-arm 12 attached to the pedal, as particularly shown in Figure 2, by clamps 13. The arm is preferably provided near its upper end with a handle 14 and extending between the lower end portion of the arm and the foremost oi said clamps is a brace 15. Connected with the arm at its upper end is a rope or other suitable flexible element 16 of a length to extend rearwardly from the tractor to the load to be pulled thereby. Thus, as will be seen, by pulling' upon said rope, the lever 11v may be rocked for swinging the clutch pedal 10 downwardly to disengage the clutch of thetractor.

Bolted at one end to the pulley housing of the tractor and at its opposite end to the differential housing is a bracket 17, the usual bolts employed in conjunction with said housinvs being utilized for securing the bracket, and pivoted upon the bracketn is an u ostanding latch 18 in the upper end portion o which is formed a notch 19. Extending between the bracket andthe lower end of said latch is a spring 2O holding the upper end portion of the latch against the stirrup of the clutch pedal. Pivoted upon the latch above the bracket is a'detent 21 engageable at its free end in a notch 22 in the bracket and pivotally connected to said detent is a release rod 23 which extends upwardly through the arm 12 of the lever 11 and is provided at its upper end with a head 24, the rod being slidable through said arm. Bearing between the arm and said head is a spring 25 normally holding the latch elevated in inactive position.

As will now be seen in view ot the torew going, when the lever 11 ils, as shown in Figure 3, rocked rearwardly. for swinging the clutch pedal 10 downwardly to disenigage the clutch of the tractor. the sti rrup of the pedal will ride downwardly along the rear edge of the latch 18 until the stirrup reaches the notch 19 in said latch when the spring 20` will act to engage `the latch with said stirrup, the shoulder on the latch Jformed by said' notch engaging over the stirrup. Thus, the clutch pedal will be automatically locked depressed, so that the tractor, after having been stopped, may, without inconvenience, be permitted to stand. T0 release the clutch pedal. t-he lever 11 is, as shown in Figure 4, rocked further rearwardly by the rope 1G when the stirrup of the clutch pedal will ride out o't the notch 19 of the latch 18 and, as the downward swinging of the pedal is continuedwill engage the rear edge of the 'latch below said; notch for rocking the upper end portion ot' the latch forwardly. Coincident-ly, the release rod 23 will be lowered. asthe free end portion of the pedal descends. so that hyV the time the latch is swung` forwardly to dispose the free end o1 the detent21 at the notch 22 inthe bracket 17, the l'ree end ot the detent will be also flowered to engage. in said notch.

Accordingly, when the rearward pull upon in the latch, the spring 25 upon the release rodbeing compressed as ythe upward travel of the'clutch pedal progresses. Howeven i after the stirrup of t'he clutch pedal has traveled past the notch 19, the tension upon said springk will becoi'ne suiiicient to raise the release rod 23 and accordinglyl again. elevate the detent to inactive position so that as the clutch pedal completes its travel to normal position, the latch will be again freed' to' bear at its upper end 'against the Stirrup of the pedal. Thus, as will be seen,

the detent will function to temporarily lock the latch inactive and will be automatically released so that the latch will be freed to cooperate with the clutch pedal upon a repetition ci: the downward swinging or". the

pedal. lifter the lever l1 hais been rocked rearwardly to effect the restraint of the latch by the detent, the pull upon the rope 16 may, of course, be slackcned as desired so that the upward swinging of the clutch pedal may be easily regulate-d to eilect a gradual engagement of the clutch of the tractor for starting the tractor.

The dash oft the tractor is indicated at 26 and mounted thereon at the side oi' lrhe i" tractor opposite the clutch pedal l0 is a lever 27. As best seen in Figures and 6, this lever if'si formed' with a U-shaped body portion straddling the adjacent edge oit the dash and extending through the body portion of the lever and through the dash is a. bolt 2S pivotally supporting the lever. Rising` 'from one side ot' the body portion of the lever is an arm 29 extending at the rear of the dash and' depending 'from the fi" i) other side ot the body portion of the lever element 35 connected at the end to the inner end of the rod 31 and at its opposite end to the clutch pedal lO. The usual throttle rod of the tractor is indicated at 36. this rod being, asis well known, rotatable in a clockwise direction `tor opening the throttle oit; the tractor engine, and upstanding from the rod near its rear end is the customary arm 37. In conjunction with this arni l employ a. rod 38 which is engaged at one end with the arni and at its opposite end with the 'depending arm 30 ot' the lever 2T coupling said lever with the rod 36, and secured at one end to the arm 37 a spring 39, the opposite end' of which is suitably anchored yso that the spring will thus tend to rotate the rod 36 in a direction for opening the throttle. Y A

A5 will now be readily understood. when the arm 11 is rocked by the rope 16 to disengage'the clutch ol' the tractor. as previously described 5 the clutch pedal 10 'will pull upon the rope 35 for rocking the lever 27 and accordingly rotating the rod 36 in a counter-clockwise direction so that the throttle et the tractor engine will be nioved toward closed position. Accordingly, the speed of the` tractor engine will be retarded coincidently with the disengagement of the clutch. On the other hand, when the pull upon the rope 16 is released, to tree the clutch pedal and engage the clutch o'lz the tractor lior starting the tractor, the spring S9 will tunction to again open the throttle so that as the clutch is engaged, the speed.

oit 'the 'tractor engine will be accolcratcd.I

The spring ooiwill, ot course, act to take up any slack in the rope 35 while by adjustine, thc nut 32, the effective length ot the connection between` the clutch pedal and the lever 2T may be varied tor setting' the throttle.

ll'lounted upon the differential housing ot the tractor is a pulley bracket connirising: spaced upwardly converging,r arms 40. At their lower ends`r these arms are bolted to the housingy by the usual bolts employed in conjunction with the housing;- and connecting;- the arms near their upper ends is a cross rod 4l. Extending); forwardly from the arms are braces 42 bolted at their lower ends to the housingV by the customary bolts of the housing so that these braces will thus function to rigidly sustain the bracket in upright position. At their upper end portions, the arms 40 are bent outwardly and laterally to provide overhangingr terminals 48 and connected to said terminals are pulleys 44 while similar pulleys 45 are mounted at the upper ends ot the braces 42. llhe steering wheel ot the tractor is indicated at 46 and bolted or otherwise secured at its ends to the rim of the wheel is a split channeled guide memliier 47 fitting the rim. Engaging said guide member to extend about the steering wheel is a rope or other suitable flexible element 48, the end portions ot which are, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, trained over the pulleys 44 and 45, the rope 4S being' oi a length to extend rearwardly from the tractor to a load being; pulled thereby. Accordingly, an operator ridingupon the load may. by pullingr first upon one end of the rope 48 and then upon the other end thereof, turn the steering wheel ot the tractor in either onedirection or the other tor guiding the tractor, the rope being,r held under tension sutlicient to maintain said rope in tia'ht trictional en* g'ag'ement with the Lguide member 47. l accordingly provide a mechanism whereby the tractor may be stopped. started and yguided by the operator riding' upon the load while the speed of the tractor engine will be automatically controlled as the tractor is .started or stopped.

Having' thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. The combination with a tractor havinnY a swinginnly movable clutch pedal, ot a lever connected to the pedal and operable for depressing the pedal, means l'or automatically locking the pedal when depressed, and means associated with the tiret means and operatively connected with the pedal tor holding' the lirst means inactive to release the pedal and operable by the pedal' when released to free the lirst means.

Q. 'libc combination with` a tractor havinn a swinginggly movable clutch pedal, of a lever connectedV to said pedal and operable toi' depressing;- the pedal, a spring` pressed latch riding;- against the pedal for auto matic-ally locking` the pedal when depressed, a detent carried by the latch, and an operative connection between the detent and the' pedal, the pedal being' movable downwardly troni depressed position for rocking the latch and rendering` said detent active holding,r the latch inactive whereby the pedal. may swing upwardly to cooperate with said connection tor releasing the detent and tree infr the latch.

El. rlhe combination with a tractor having' a swinginnly movable clutch pedal, of a bracket, a spring pressed latch pivoted upon the bracket and bearing; against the pedal itor automatically locking; the pedal when depressed, a detcnt carried by the latch, the pedal being' movable downwardly Jfrom depressed position for rocking the latch and shitting the detent to engage said bracket holding' the latch inactive whereby the pedal may swing` upwardly, and an operative connection between the detent and the pedal for releasing` the detent to t'ree the latch upon upward movement ot the pedal.

4. The combination with a tractor havingr a swingingly movable clutch pedal, oit a lever having` an arm secured to the pedal, the lever beingr operable for depressing the pedal, a bracket, a spring pressed-latch pivoted upon the bracket and bearing' against the pedal for automatically locking' the pedal when depressed. a detent pivoted upon the latci, the pedal being movable downward troni depressed position tor rocking the latch and shitting said detent to engage the bracket holding` the latch inactive whereby the pedal may swing' upwardly, a rod connected to the deteut and having` slidablc con nection with said arm, and a spring' bearing' between the arm and rod to be brought under tension upon upward movement ot the pedal lor releasing' thc detent and freeing' the latch.

5. The combination with a tractor having a swinginply movable clutch pedal, ol a' spring` pressed latch operable to automatically lock the pedal when depressed, and a detent havingoperative connection with the latch and pedal, the pedal being movable from depressed position 'For rocking the latch and rendering the detent activ-e lockinn' the latch whereby the pedal may swinga upwardly for automatically releasing the detent and treeing; the latchl The combination with a tractor having; a clutch pedal and dash, o'l means for operating said pedal at a distance therefrom,

a lever straddling the dash and pivoted thereon, said lever being provided with op` positely directed arms extendingv at oppo` site sides of the dash, an operative connection betw'een one of said arms and the throttle of the tractor engine, and a flexible cennection between the other ot said arms and the pedal whereby the throttle will he moved toward closed position when the lever is de` pressed, the latter connection including a rod slidalchv adjustable upon the latter arm to var v the length oiI said flexible connection for setting the throttle, and means upon said rod .tor adjusting' the rod with respect to the latter arm.

7. In a tractor control, means to engage the clutch pedal ot a tractor when said pedal is depressed, means for holding' said first mentioned means inactive to tree the pedal for return movement, and an operative connection between the pedal and said second mentioned means for releasingsaid second mentioned means upon return movement of the pedal.

8. In a tractor control, a pivoted latch to engage the clutch pedal of a tractor when said pedal is depressed, a detent for holding the latch inactive to free the pedal for return movement, and an operative connection betWeenthe pedal and said detent for re` leasing the detent upon return movement oli' the pedal.

9. ln a tractor control, a pivoted latch to engage the clutch pedal of a tractor when said pedal is depressed, a detent for holding)T the latch inactive to free the pedal 'for re` turn movement, and an operative connection between the pedal and said detent including a spring adapted to be brought under tension for releasing` the detent upon return movement of the pedal.

In testimonyv whereof I atlix my signature.

EARL L. THOMSON. [ns] 

